“What in the world are you talking about?� inquired Mrs. Osborne.
“Oh, I reckon I know.� Patsy eagerly aired her knowledge. “That Smith, the new man at the Tolliver place, quarreled with Cousin Mayo, and Cousin Mayo knocked him down. We saw it, Anne and I.�
“Oh, Princess Pocahontas! Are you and Lady Anne taking the witness stand against me?� Black Mayo said in mock reproach. “Well, it’s true.�
Mrs. Osborne gave a little exclamation of horror. “Oh, Mayo!� she said, frowning at her husband. “I’ve begged you not to let outside people buy land around here. And now Mayo’s had to knock one of them down.�
“But, Miranda dear, when a man sells his farm and the purchaser comes to get me to look up the title—�
“You just ought to tell him we don’t want him here,� said Mrs. Osborne. “What is the use of being a lawyer if you can’t put some law on outsiders to keep them from spoiling The Village?�
The two men laughed.
Then Black Mayo said: “I suppose he told you about it, Mayo. The ‘I saids’ and ‘he saids’?�
“Yes; oh, yes!�
“H’m! I hope you’ll make him pay you a good fat fee for the case.�